This question has been bugging me for a while. I primarily use acrylic paints if I have to touch something up or customize a figure. However, no matter how well I clean, sand, let the paint dry, and polish it, I can't seem to apply paint that is as resistant to chipping or damage as factory paint.

Is it because I am using acrylics versus enamels, or is there something else fundamentally different about factory applied paints?

Thanks for your help!

 

What's your sealer?

 

I've only used Future/Pledge as my sealer. Is there something else you would recommend?

 

well since factories don't use sealer, that's probably not it.

I'm just spit-balling here, but

my first guess is that factories use paint that is hazardous while wet/being applied but is completely safe once cured, whatever chemical they use gives the paint a really strong bond with the plastic, but makes it such that the paint is not commercially available to hobbyists.

my second guess is that the paint they uses is somewhat of a cross between dye and paint and both allows them to get good color with a very thin coat and to get the paint to stick extremely well to the plastic.

just my  

 

Interesting. I've had much better luck with Krylon Fusion than any other paint, where it's almost as hardy as factory paint, but unfortunately the color choices don't match up all that well with most of the factory colors on TFs.

 

Why is it so much more durable? China. The stuff they use isn't California-friendly, and not even US-friendly most of the time. (and nowadays, if something isn't CA-approved, most of the time companies simply won't ship/allow it in the US at all, as CA is such a huge chunk of the US market)

IIRC, a lot of the "paint" used in Chinese factories isn't even what we'd call paint. More like an ink that dries very hard.

 

Yep, it is a HIGHLY toxic form of PVC paint. It is ONLY highly toxic in liquid form, but completely harmless in solid form. It is banned in all applications in the USA.

 

We need to find a black market for that stuff. I'd only paint outside and still use a gas mask to protect myself.

 

I figure it's because they're able to apply it using different means than hand-painting, and to a plastic surface that is fresh/specially prepared to receive the paint. There may also be a curing stage for the factory applied paint.

 

Even it flakes and chips on parts too.

 

Yeah, the PVC paint. Crazy stuff. Hazardous in liquid form, but a kid could gnaw on it all day in cured and be okay.

 

Lol! That is just a hilarious statement.